Means fob safeguarding concrete structures against leaking fractures



Dec. .17, 1929.- E.- R. ODEN I 1,740,110

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I g i NNNNNN OR Patented Dec; 17, 1 929 UNITED STATES ;PATENT OFFICE" EUGENE R. claim, or pruvxnnsnm, cALIFoRN'IA i Application filed November 11, 1926. Serial No. 14'(,837.

- My invention relates to concrete reservoirs and'the like for storing water which as theretoforefconst-ructed are provided with many so called expansion joints which .arecut through or extend through the entire thickness of the walls so as to divide the latter into slabs, the intended purpose of the cut through the joints-being to minimizevthe possibility of fracture of the concrete by permitting the slabs to freely expand or contract. It is of course well known that the expansion joints areefl'ective only to a small degree inthe prevention of fractures, the joints in actual practice weakening the walls and thus increasing the possibility of fracture and leaka e. o

It is a purpose'of my invention to provide a means by which the possibility of fracture is greatly minimized in any body or slab of con- 0 crete-or similar material capable of fracture and, in such manner that when fractures do occur they will be confined to predetermined paths and automatically sealed against leak- In carrying out my invention I course the surface of a concrete wall or slab at calculated points in a manner to form what I term false joints, false in the sense that the courses or grooves do not extend entirelycdmpletely through the wall or slab. By the vprovision 'of such false joints the wall 01; slab is weakened to asmall degree at these'points and to the extent of restricting any fractures: which might occur to the false joints rather than at points'between the latter. By filling the false joints with a suitable waterproof material it will be manifest that when a fra'c-' ture does occur the filler will function to plug 40 the crack and thus prevent passage of water thereintol The filler material is preferably 1 non-hardening in order that it may respond to the weight of the water contained in the V x reservoir to effectively seal the fracture 5 against leakage. -Further, the false joints may be spanned by laminations of a material which is flexible and Waterproof, the flexibility of the material permitting it to respond to the weight of the water in forcing the fill ing material to the crackand yet protecting the filling material against the deteriorating I action of water and the elements.

My invention is not limited in its adaptatiorrto walls of concrete as it will be undertured, nor is it restricted to materials used forwalls, as it can be, applied to pavements and streets. a

I will describe only two means of safeguarding concrete' and similar, structures against leaking fractures, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claimsz In the drawings Figure l is a view showing in fragmentary sectionalperspective a reservoir having incorporated therein one means of safeguard.-

ing 'the concrete walls thereof against leak v ing fractures; v v Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the bottom wall of the reservoir shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is aview similar to Figure 2, showing-a modification of'the means shown in Figures 1 and 2 for safeguarding the concrete walls ofthe reservoir against leaking fractures.

l In Figure l I have shown a portion of a reservoir in which the side and bottom walls are constructed of slabs 15 of concrete or similar material; having expansion or contraction 'oints 16, preferably sealed against leakage y the. means embodied-in my copending application Serial No. 138,457, filed September 29, 1926. This joint sealing means includes a plurality of flexible membranes 17 superimposedand of graduated lengths. I In'the upper or outer surfaces of the slabs grooves 18 are formed by coursing the concrete while in a plasticstate, the grooves being preferably of V form in cross section and' "co-extensive in length or width with-the slabs.

In the present instance I have shown the grooves extending in two directions on each slab so that they intersect, the grooves extending in eithe'; direction being parallel and spaced from etch other and form the edges of the slabs. a

As shown-in Figure 2 the grooves contain a-filler 19 which is of suitable non-hardening compound such asfasphalt poured hot into the grooves. The filler 19 in each groove is substantlally triangular in cross section its .upper or outersurface being slightly convex so that the pressure of water thereon when the reservoir is filled will tend to force the filler inwardly of the groove, when a fracture occurs in the groove thereby operating to seal the fracture against leakage of water therethrough.

In Figure 3 erty is preserved. The membranesbeing flexible allow the weight of the water to still function'in pressing the filler into any. fractures which may occur in the groove so as to seal the latter againstleakage.

Although I have herein shown and described only two-means of safeguarding concrete structures againstl-eaking fractures, it 1s to be understood that varlous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit-and scope of the appended claims.

.I claim: I 3 1. Ii -combination, a body of material capable of fracture having grooves in one sur face thereof, a non-hardening waterproof filler for the grooves, and laminations of flexible, material superimposed on the filler of each groove and bridging the groove.

2. In combination, a body of material ca= pable of fracture and having a surface thereof grooved at intervals to form false joints for confining fracturing of the material to the oints, and a waterproof compound filling the grooves toprevent leakage of fractures at the false joints.

' oints, a waterproof and non-hardening subl posed on'said substance and spanning the 3. In combination, a body of material capable of fracture and having a surface thereof grooved .at intervals to form false joints for confining fracturing of the material to the stance filling the grooves, and a member of flex ble and waterproof, material superimedges of the grooves.v

4. In combination, a body of material capable of fracture and having a surface thereof formed with intersecting grooves to 'provide false joints for confinmg fracturingof the material to the joints, and .a water )roof' compond filling the grooves to prevent cakage of fractures at the false joints.

5. In combination, a body of fracturable material having a surface groove therein, a non-hardening and waterproof filler in the groove, and a yieldable liquid proof covering for the groove. Y j EUGENE R. ODEN.

I have shown two flexible .membranes 20 overlying the groove and serving as a protection against deterioration of the filler by the elements so that its sealing prop- 

